Campervan essentials for your first camper

It’s no secret that packing for a trip away from home can feel a bit daunting.

No matter where you’re going, how you’re travelling, or how long you plan to be away for, it can be difficult to shake that feeling of being unprepared or having left behind some kind of essential gadget or gizmo.

Fortunately, a camper provides ample storage and opportunity for you to stock up on all those essentials that make travelling just that little bit easier, safer, and more luxurious – all without the added worry of forgetting your charger in a hotel room!

Regardless of whether you’ve just purchased your very first camper or hired one for a long trip exploring Europe, it pays to be prepared for a wide variety of situations. This is where Landseer Leisure can help.

As experts in the campervan design and engineering industry, we’ve complied a complete list of all the campervan essentials you may want to consider purchasing before setting off on your journey!

What is essential for a campervan?

While each campervan will vary in terms of its features, and everyone has a different idea of what is ‘essential’ when on the road, having a list of campervan necessities to refer to can help you to get started and feel prepared.

That’s why the helpful team at Landseer Leisure have put together this comprehensive campervan essentials list. From maintenance basics to important personal documentation, it covers everything you could possibly need to make your campervan journey both safer and more enjoyable.

Naturally, if you prefer to travel light, then you may decide that some of these items aren’t essential for your campervan. However, if you’re looking for an off-grid experience that feels more luxurious, why not take all the creature comforts that make you feel at ease with you?

Kitchenware

When it comes to feeling comfortable in your camper, a fully stocked kitchen is key – but we’re not talking about the food! What if you’re eager to set the mood on your romantic trip away, but you forgot to pack the corkscrew, candles, and matches?

These kitchen necessities are often overlooked, especially when planning a spontaneous weekend getaway, but they can make a big difference. Ensuring you pack these campervan essentials can also save you a lot of money as every piece of cookware adds up!

  • Lighter and matches
  • Rubbish bags
  • Washing up sponge and soap
  • Glasses
  • Cutlery
  • Tin opener
  • Plates
  • Corkscrew and bottle opener
  • Coolbox and cooling blocks
  • Kettle/teapot/coffee machine
  • Cookware
  • Coasters
  • Scissors
  • Dishware
  • Tea towel and hand towel
  • Cutting board

Important documentation

While there are plenty of campervan essentials that can be purchased during your travels, there are some that are simply irreplaceable – like your all-important documentation! This is especially true if you plan on taking lots of trips outside of the UK, you might need your:

  • Valid passport
  • Full valid driving license
  • Insurance details
  • Health insurance details
  • Registration certificate

Electronics

Taking electronic devices along with you on your trip can make it both easier and more enjoyable. From helping you to navigate from one site to another to giving you the means to properly document your journeys with plenty of pictures, going off-grid doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to technology!

You may want to consider taking:

  • Mobile phone and charger
  • Tablet/Laptop and charger
  • Navigation system and charger
  • Torch
  • Spare batteries
  • Extension cords
  • USB cable
  • Power bank
  • Adapters

Thanks to our Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan’s off-grid 230v power, provided by the Clayton LPSII system, you’ll have the flexibility to power your electronics even in remote areas. This innovative system ensures that you can stay connected, capturing memories and enjoying the modern comforts without relying on campsite hookups.

Safety essentials

When travelling in your campervan, the vehicle becomes your home – and everyone wants to keep their home as safe and secure as possible. That’s why we recommend investing in some key safety essentials that can provide you with peace of mind both when you’re inside the camper and away from it.

Safety essentials for camper journeys also include items that can help you prepare for more extreme weather. For example, if you’re planning a skiing trip in the Swiss Alps, you may want to look into snow tyres and snow chains.

Other campervan essentials for safety purposes can include:

  • Spare keys
  • Jump leads
  • First aid kit
  • Maps
  • High-vis safety vests
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Antifreeze screen cover and spray
  • Snow tyres and snow chains
  • Wheel clamps – ideal for deterring thieves
  • Warning triangle – it’s a legal requirement in many countries to carry a warning triangle

Campervan maintenance and operation

From keeping your camper clean to ensuring it’s abiding by the rules of all the countries that you’re travelling through, there are many items that can help. Our campervan essentials list wouldn’t be complete without these crucial items:

  • Oil and coolant
  • Disposable gloves and disinfectant
  • Handheld vacuum
  • Replacement light bulbs
  • Frost scraper
  • 240v hook-up cable – to receive electricity
  • Gas hose and bottles – for powering the hob or BBQ point
  • Vignette – road tax required for driving along certain roads in some European countries
  • Parking disc – allows for time-restricted free parking in certain countries and areas
  • Levelling ramps – help to prevent rolling when parked

Comfort essentials

Prefer to travel in the utmost comfort? We don’t blame you – a few well-chosen additions to your campervan can transform your vehicle into a welcoming home-away-from-home. Here are some campervan essentials that will make your journey feel cushier than a five-star hotel.

  • Toilet facilities and chemicals
  • Mattress topper and bedding
  • Window blinds – to keep out light and nosey neighbours!
  • Home décor – rugs, blankets, cushions, and decorations can make it feel like home
  • Electric fan – ideal for keeping cool in hotter climates

Payment options

While the world is becoming increasingly weighted towards cash-free payment methods, there are still plenty of places that won’t (or can’t!) accept debit and credit cards. This includes some campsites, toll roads, and many other smaller businesses that you might come across during your travels.

However, debit and credit cards are also ideal for daily use as well as covering the cost of any big, unexpected expenses, like essential vehicle repairs or part replacements!

  • Debit card
  • Credit card
  • Cash
  • Toll payment badge – can be used on motorways in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, and some car parks.

Essentials for the Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan

Considering purchasing a camper from Landseer Leisure? The talented team of innovative designers and experienced engineers at Landseer Leisure has worked hard to create our new Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan.

One standout feature of this model is its commitment to a fully gas-free setup. With twin induction hobs and a concealed, off-grid power system, there’s no need for gas bottles or hoses. This cleaner, greener power solution—offered through the Clayton LPSII system—provides reliable 230v power off the grid, allowing you to enjoy a modern, self-sustained lifestyle even in remote locations. This gas-free approach not only simplifies maintenance but also aligns with sustainable, eco-friendly travel choices.

A combination of reassuring safety features, cutting-edge technology, and modern interior design, we’ve included as many sought-after features as possible, but is it the right camper for you?

To make understanding the features of this model even easier, we’ve made a list of items that you may want to purchase separately (or include as an optional extra), alongside the many campervan essentials that you won’t have to worry about for this campervan model.

What you may need:

Toilet facilities

Toilet facilities vary from one campervan to the other – some have fully integrated indoor bathrooms, others have stowed away chemical toilets, and some prioritise space over including this facility.

While the Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan doesn’t come with toilet facilities as standard, we do offer the optional extra of installing a designated cupboard that’s specially designed to house a Thetford porta toilet.

Alternatively, you can always retain the existing campervan space and simply use campsite and service station facilities instead.

Hot water and showering facilities

Both gas and electric water heaters can be installed in campervans to provide the user with a hot water supply. However, the Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan doesn’t come with “off-grid” hot water as standard, so you may need to purchase a kettle and ensure you have access to showering facilities.

Alternatively, one of the optional extras for this model includes the Webasto Thermo Top hot water system, with blown air heater, for an additional cost. A convenient rear shower attachment can also be installed for an extra charge, allowing you to fully indulge in comfort while on the road.

You can learn more about the optional extras for Landseer Leisure’s Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan and their costs by taking a look at our retail pricing guide.

What you don’t need:

Additional lighting

While you may want to bring a torch as a back-up source of light, this campervan model features sensor-activated, modern cabinet lighting that creates a welcoming ambiance. This means you won’t need to worry about dark cabinets and poor lighting dampening your cosy evenings inside the camper!

Portable hob

The Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan features gas-free twin induction hobs that have been seamlessly flush-integrated into the real oak worktop. With no need for a portable hob, cooking just became that bit easier and more enjoyable.

Gas hose and bottle

As a completely gas-free campervan, you won’t need to worry about packing a gas hose and gas bottles. Instead, you can use both twin induction hobs with ease to cook up a tasty feast when on-the-go thanks to the off-grid 230v power.

240v hook-up cable

Speaking of off-grid power, you won’t require a 240v hook-up cable either (though you may choose to bring one with you!). This is because the Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan is fitted with a 240w solar panel that’s been neatly integrated into the SCA “pop-top” roof.

This solar panel converts energy from the sun into an electrical charge that feeds the lithium power system. As a result, you won’t need to plug your campervan into an electric socket at your campsite to receive power, allowing you to go fully off-grid for all kinds of exciting adventures.

Jump leads

Benefitting from a vehicle battery “Jump Start” feature, jump leads aren’t necessary either for this model. Should a dead battery occur, this feature should allow you to get on the road again with minimal disruption to your journey.

Portable sink

To make cooking an even more luxurious experience, we’ve also added a concealed underslung sink complete with an oak lid that doubles as a convenient chopping board. This allows you to chop, cook, wash up – all in one convenient place!

Blinds

The Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan puts your privacy first with a manually operated, in-house blackout blind system. Whether you simply want a better night’s sleep or to protect your privacy when you’re trying to relax in a busy area, these built-in handy blinds do the trick.

Speakers

Eager to enhance your journey with some songs from your favourite artists? Or perhaps you prefer listening to the latest radio hits. Whatever your preference might be, this campervan model features rear lockers that contain powerful twin speakers with Bluetooth connectivity.

Create a camper that works for you

At Landseer Leisure, we understand that every campervan owner is different. That’s why we offer a wide range of optional extras for our Ford Custom 2.0 campervan, allowing you to tailor your camper to your specific requirements.

Whether you’d like extra parking support from a digital rear view mirror or want to install another seat to ensure there’s a space for every family member on your journey, our expert team of designers and engineers are on hand to help.

We also understand that your campervan should feel like a place that’s packed with your own personality. That’s why we provide a choice of both cabinetry colour and flooring options, allowing you to customise this modern interior according to your personal preferences.

If you have a question about our campervan essentials list or you’d like to find out more about the Ford Custom 2.0 Campervan at Landseer Leisure, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team today.

We also welcome email enquiries sent to info@landseerleisure.com and you can always give us a call on 01772 429763 to discuss your specific campervan requirements in more detail.